Saudi Arabian authorities have announced that the holy month of Ramazan is expected to begin on Monday, March 11.
This is based on the sighting of the crescent moon, which is expected to occur on the evening of Sunday, March 10th.
Dr. Sharaf Al-Safani, head of the Astronomy Department, stated that the new moon will be visible for approximately 13 minutes after sunset in Makkah. This sighting will be followed by the official registration of testimonies in the Supreme Court, confirming the start of Ramadan.
The announcement brings great anticipation as Muslims around the world prepare for a month of spiritual reflection, fasting, and prayer. Ramazan is one of the five pillars of Islam, and its observance holds immense significance for the Muslim community.
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Ramadan also spelled Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, or Ramathan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar,[8] observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer (salah), reflection, and community. A commemoration of Muhammad’s first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
Fasting from dawn to sunset is obligatory (fard) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, pregnant, or menstruating. The predawn meal is referred to as suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar. Although rulings (fatawa) have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca, it is common practice to follow the timetable of the closest country in which night can be distinguished from day.
The spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan. Accordingly, during the hours of fasting, Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also tobacco products, sexual relations, and sinful behavior, devoting themselves instead to prayer and study of the Quran.
Etymology
The word Ramadan derives from the Arabic root R-M-Ḍ “scorching heat”, which is the Classical Arabic verb “ramiḍa (رَمِضَ)” meaning “become intensely hot – become burning; become scorching; be blazing; be glowing”.
Ramadan is thought of as one of the names of God in Islam by some, and as such it is reported in many hadiths that it is prohibited to say only “Ramadan” in reference to the calendar month and that it is necessary to say “month of Ramadan”, as reported in Sunni, Shia and Zaydi sources. However, the report has been graded Mawḍūʻ (fabricated) and inauthentic.
In the Persian language, the Arabic letter (Ḍād) is pronounced as /z/. The Muslim communities in some countries with historical Persian influence, such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, India, Pakistan and Turkey, use the word Ramazan or Ramzan. The word Romzan is used in Bangladesh.
Saudi astronomers announce start of Ramazan for March 11
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